BILL ANALYSIS Ó Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary Senator Kevin de León, Chair AB 1509 (Fox) - Veterans Amended: March 25, 2014 Policy Vote: VA 6-0 Urgency: No Mandate: No Hearing Date: August 4, 2014 Consultant: Maureen Ortiz This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File. Bill Summary: AB 1509 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a transition assistance program for veterans. Fiscal Impact: Approximately $200,000 in one-time costs to develop the program (General Fund) The Department of Veterans Affairs indicates the need for two limited term analysts (AGPAs) for development of the program. Actual implementation costs are unknown at this time and will be determined after the plan is completed. Background: The Federal "Transition Assistance Program Goals, Plans, and Success" (TGPS) Program, formerly known as the Transition Assistance Program was created in 1990 to inform and assist veterans in understanding their Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. However, the federal program provides information specific to the state where a veteran is immediately ending his or her service, and not to the location of permanent residence. In 2011, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law the "Veterans Opportunity to Work and Hire Heroes Act of 2011" (VOW Act). The VOW Act requires, among other things, that separating service members must attend the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). A partnership among the Departments of Defense (DOD), Veterans Affairs (VA) and Labor (DOL), the TAP program provided job assistance and separation counseling services on military installations. The program included information and counseling for pre-separation, employment assistance, relocation, education and training, health and life insurance, finances, Reserve AB 1509 (Fox) Page 1 affiliation, disabled Veterans, and retirement. Proposed Law: AB 1509 requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a transition assistance program for veterans who have been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of any state. The program will be designed to complement the transition program offered by the Department of Defense and will assist veterans in successfully transitioning from military to civilian life. The program will include the following California-specific transition assistance information: a) Higher education benefits and programs; b) Vocational training assistance; c) Small business resources; d) Health care programs and services; e) Mental health resources; f) Military sexual trauma resources; and, g) Housing information. AB 1509 contains Legislative Intent that the department utilize its existing personnel and other resources, including its existing internet-based CalVet Internet Web site to disseminate this information. Staff Comments: The majority of separating service members who intend to live in California are discharged from various military bases located across the country. These individuals are currently not informed about state-specific benefits that are provided in California during the federal transition assistance program. Recommended Amendments: Staff recommends moving the Legislative Intent on page 2, lines 37-40, to an uncodified section of the bill in order to maintain uniformity and clarity within the code. AB 1509 (Fox) Page 2